Garment Care, Maintenance and Stain Removal
This domain tests care-label reading, washing temperatures, stain chemistry and routine machine upkeep. Stain questions reward knowing which stains are set by heat and which are not.
Reading care labels
- Washtub with a number = maximum wash temperature; a hand in the tub = hand wash at about 40 °C.
- Triangle = bleach allowed; crossed triangle = no bleach.
- Square with a circle = tumble dry; plain square = line dry.
- Iron dots: one dot 110 °C, two dots 150 °C, three dots 200 °C.
- Circle with P or F = dry clean only.
Washing rules
- Sort light from dark, and heavy from delicate.
- Cotton 40–60 °C, wool 30 °C cool with no wringing, silk gentle hand wash in mild detergent.
- Dry in shade to protect colour; dry knits flat so they do not stretch.
Stain rules
- Protein stains (blood, egg, milk): cold water only, since heat sets them. Use an enzyme detergent.
- Tea and coffee: cold water first, then warm with detergent; lemon juice helps.
- Grease: absorb with talcum powder, then wash with detergent.
- Ink: spirit or alcohol on cotton, tested on a hidden corner. Rust: lemon and salt. Chewing gum: ice, then scrape.
Machine care
- Brush lint from the feed dog and bobbin case weekly; oil per the manual; replace the needle after 8–10 hours of use; cover the machine when idle.
Worked example
Blood on white cotton: soak in cold water for 15 minutes, rub gently with enzyme detergent, then wash at 40 °C. Hot water or a hot iron at this stage would fix the stain permanently.
Traps
- Hot water on protein stains.
- Pouring bleach directly on silk or wool.
- Using three-dot iron heat on polyester, which glazes the fibre.